Snacking Well And Doing Good Things With Tasya Kelen - Founder Of Isadore Nut Co.

Tasya Kelen wears many hats-entrepreneur, wife, and mother.

Tasya’s vision of a healthier snack was inspired by her regular visit to the farmers market after yoga teacher training, back in 2012. Unable to find a clean, gluten free option, she took it upon herself to make her first batch of seasoned and spiced nuts at home. Shortly after her first sale, a series of kismet events unfolded that solidified what she already knew: Healing the world through food made with integrity is where she’s meant to be. Tasya treats food as medicine, sources through sustainable supply chains and supports employment equity so she can leave this world better than how she found it.

What goes into each bag is just part of their story.

In 2018, Tasya toured Jewish Housing and Programming and the kitchen at Cornerstone Creek, where she learned more than 82 percent of adults with disabilities are unemployed. She decided to create a workplace for people of all abilities. Tasya moved production to Cornerstone Creek and began partnering with social service organizations and advocating for persons with disabilities. Now more than half of the staff at Isadore Nut Company are adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities.

Tasya believes that everyone, regardless of ability, should be given the opportunity for employment because everyone holds value and has something to contribute.

The nuts are soooo delicious! I love healthy macro rich snacks like this and they are excellent in salads too.

So thrilled that Tasya took the time to do this Q+A feature with GFY!

INTERVIEW WITH TASYA

-Share your story with us! Tell us about you and your beautiful brand!  

The story of Isadore Nut Co began nine years ago this month. It started because I saw a need for healthy, delicious snacks, with sustainably sourced, real ingredients that was low in sugar. I knew it had to be gluten free and protein rich. Nuts were the obvious choice. But I was also in the process of learning to teach yoga, so I knew the ingredients had to have healing properties. That’s why two of our original ingredients included turmeric. And, I was a mom. I had two wonderful daughters who were both in school full time and I could now devote time to developing my passions. So I started by creating delicious nut mixes of organic cashews, pecans and walnuts, lightly kissed with enough maple syrup to bind on globally inspired spices like ginger, cinnamon and cumin seed. We sold them as gifts and to speciality stores and co-ops. And like you Sam, we developed a following that we are grateful for as we look to expand around the country. 

-Getting from an idea to a small business is a lot of work! When did it first sink in for you that ‘this is really happening’? 

That’s a great question. I think for a lot of entrepreneurs there are many “is this really happening” moments. The first time I got a store to take my call and want to buy my products legitimized my “passion project,” for sure. I believed that I belonged in the Cheese Department at our local coop, so I got the name of the Cheese buyer and called her up. She loved my story and the product idea and even before she tasted it she said she would bring them in. That was a huge moment. I think I was sitting in my car making the call, and I was over the moon that she said, “yes.”

-How are your nuts different from other options available?

We believe we are hands down the most delicious option on the market. That has to do with four things - supporting sustainable supply chains to source the highest quality nuts from around the world. We have Non-GMO Project certification to verify that’s exactly what we do. Using just a small amount of maple syrup to enhance the flavor of the spices and then, don’t laugh but we add the magic of love. Everyone who creates and packages our product feels so much pride in the what we do that they infuse it with love. 

Lastly, I have the best staff in the world. Three years ago, I learned about the 82% unemployment rate for people with disabilities and became an inclusive employer to try and make a difference. Now, half our staff are people with disabilities and we proclaim right on our packaging that we are “Handmade by People of All Abilities.” 

-Out of all your products, which is your personal favourite and why? 

Well Sam, they’re all my creations; so like my children, I can’t pick a favorite. But I’m partial to the Chai, which tastes a bit like a buttery ginger cookie, and the ones with chocolate: our Cocoa Orange and Cocoa Mint taste like a cross between a bite of lava cake and a Girl Scout thin mint with protein ;)

-What has been your biggest success story since starting your brand?

We won two Good Food awards for our Lemon Rosemary, and Chai. But I wouldn’t have submitted for a Good Food award if I wasn’t more in touch with my WHY - which is probably my biggest success story. I realized that my WHY is to help repair the world. In Judaism, we say “Tikkun Olam.” So once I started embracing my why more vocally, I wanted everyone to know about us and submitted for the Good Food awards - which is basically a version of the Oscars for craft food makers. 

-What motivates you on a day-to-day basis? 

I am motivated by my commitment to making the world better - supporting sustainable supply chains, offering employment equity to the most amazing staff and making and selling nuts that make you feel good in your body and soul.

-What’s your favourite thing about the town or city you live in? 

Minneapolis and St Paul are sister cities where people creatively source and farm on the native land we call home. As a result, there is an abundance of amazing food and local makers. We have James Beard award winning chefs that source seasonally; we have the largest Hmong community in our state who delight the senses with incredible and comforting SE Asian dishes; and craft makers who are inspired by the bounty of plants and wildflowers to create healing balms, teas, and skin care. 

-Describe your ideal Sunday, including your breakfast.

 I can sleep in past seven, I love that. I’m biased but I have this amazing husband who has a passion for good coffee. So every morning he makes me a cappuccino with a little bit of local maple syrup. Then I will make gluten free pancakes with sour cream. My husband used to be the pancake maker, but a friend gave me Aunt Edna’s Sour Cream pancake recipe and ever since the first time I made it, the girls clamor for them. They’re super easy and you can use gf cup for cup flour or regular, the sour cream in the batter is what makes them so wonderful. But you could use greek yogurt in a pinch. 

-What are your personal top three tips for feeling awesome?

I really love this question!! I don’t always feel awesome, who does? But I have a couple of tools to get me there - a walk in our neighborhood or around one of the lakes we have in a five miles radius from our house. A laugh or deep conversation with a good friend, and eating something truly delicious. 

-What’s the most important thing you want people to know about Isadore Nuts?! 

I want them to know that the deliciousness they taste in our products is a direct result of the good we’re trying to do in the world. Our commitment to repairing the world is about making it better than we found it. Lifting up small organic farmers, who are environmental stewards and committed to fair trade means that future generations will know we cared enough to make the choices that benefit the greater good. Reducing stigma around hiring practices - be it the color of someone’s skin, their disability or their age we all have something to contribute and want to be valued.

-So your brand has some Oklahoma roots too ! Can you share more info about that?!

Yes we do! Our pecans are grown by the Miller Pecan Company in  Afton, OK, on the famous Route 66!. The Miller family are repairing the world through their steadfast commitment to the most natural practices to grow pecans in groves and along the river banks. They are a wonderful partner because there is no pretense about why they’re doing what’s right, they’re doing it because they want to protect the land for future generations.  

-If you could make a nut inspired by me - what would it be like?! 

That’s another excellent question. We don’t make candied nuts but I know you make amazing desserts. So I think it might have to be a little bit sweet and a little bit spicy and combine some of the favorites - maybe a maple cayenne rosemary?? Hmmm, something to consider for sure!

-Any new nut varieties coming that you can share?!

The thing I started playing around with during the pandemic is seeds. Pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds have higher levels of protein than nuts, so the idea of something with seeds and maybe some coconut… it’s an idea. 

-Where can readers buy your nuts?

Directly on our website - www.isadorenutco.com :))

Just in time for the holiday season TOO!

They are so proud to offer their brand new, mission forward, larger pouches in time for the holiday shopping season. They truly make the perfect gift. Their award-winning flavors are all DELICIOUS, plus the new elevated packaging speaks to the mission of repairing the world and offers quotes for inspiration on the bottom of each bag. Order one or five and send to someone you love!

Use code “REPAIRTHEWORLD” to save 15% site wide now til 12/31/2021